Hand-grenade



A. G. BERGMAN.

} HAND GHENADE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1917.

I INVE'NTOR 7% g Patented Dec. 21,1920.

' WITNESSES:

AXEL G. BERG-MAN, OF NEW YORK. N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ORDNANCE ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HAND-GRENADE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Application filed June 1, 1917. Serial No. 172,243.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, AXEL G. BERGMAN, a subject ofthe King of Sweden, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand- Grenades, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hand grenades and aims to provide certain improvements therein.

The invention" relates to grenades of the general type set forth in several prior applications filed by me.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a grenade which is cheap and simple of construction and positive in operation, and which has a positive safety factor in use. The principal features of novelty will be hereinafter more fully pointed out. 1 Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of the invention,

Figure l is a central vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1;,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a top or plan view.

Referring to the drawings, let A indicate the. casing of the grenade, which is preferably. formed of a spherical casting of iron or steel. The main opening at the top is closed by a. cover B which is best screwthreaded into the casing, as shown. Through this-opening the casing C for the firing mechanism is introduced. Surrounding the firing mechanism casing is a chamber D which is designed to contain the explosive.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the firing pin E is fixed at the bottom of the casing. C and the detonator F is contained in a movable carrier G which is shown as sliding in a circular chamber H in the casing C. The detonator F may be contained in a movable sleeve I against which presses the spring J reacting against a screw-plug K in'the cover B. When unrestrained, the spring acts through the sleeve I forcing the detonator and its carrier G downwardly against the firing pin On the opposite side of the casing C is formed a chamber H which is similar to the chamber H and which contains the sear L and other parts of the sear mechanism.

The sear L is of the type set forth in my aforesaid applications, being pivoted at the point M and being of considerable weight so that it can move in any direction when released. It is formed with a' shoulder N which engages an arm 0 formed on the carrier Ur, the latter extending throu h a slot H formed between the chambers and H. The arm 0 is preferably formed with a knife edge which rests on the shoulder under the tension of the spring J until the shock of impact dislodges the sear, whereupon the carrier and detonator are urged downwardly against the pin E An important feature ofconstruction is that of the safety device for the sear L. In prior constructions this safety device has been in the form of a pin which has usually been held by some form of catch, the pin being withdrawn by a parachute or other similar device. According to the present invention an added factor of safety is contributed to the device'by providin a construction in which the safety mechanism for the sear is so held by a spring or the like that it cannot be jarred or become displaced from such position until moved therefrom by'a superior force. In the preferred form I release the safety device by centrifugal force which throws it out against the tension of its spring. By this means the grenade may be safely dropped or mishandled in any way without producing accidental explosion. In the simple construction shown the safety device comprises a weighted plunger Q, or other weighted member, which engages the sear as by a recess in the plunger for receiving a part of the sear as shown, or in any other suitable way. The plunger is normally held in this engagement by a light spring R bearing against the underside of the cap B. Within the plunger is shown a catch S which is urged forward by a spring, the catch normally bearing against the wall T formed upon the bore U of the cap B. When the plunger is moved outwardly a suflicientdistance, it catches over the top of the wall, thus holding the plunger in its retracted position in which it is disengaged from the sear L.

To normally hold the parts locked in safety position for transportation, etc., a spring member such as V may be employed. The latter is best made of a length which is slightly greater than a half circle so that it holds its position by its spring action.

tent to engage indentations W, WV, thereby preventing slipping of the spring. A portion of the spring extends over the bore U, and hence over the top of the plunger Q, so that as long as the spring is in place, it is impossible for the plunger to release the sear.

At the bottom of the device I preferably provide an abutment X which is held in a slot in the firing mechanism casing C, a light spring such as Y being provided to eject the abutment when the spring V is removed. The function of this abutment is to provide a stop for the carrier Gr so that if, through any inadvertence,'the sear should become released from the hook O of the carrier G, the carrier cannot reach the firing pin E. In this connection it is to be noted that the spring J .which urges the carrier downwardly is preferably of such length that it cannot directly force the carrier to a position wherein the detonator contacts with the firing pin. It is preferably made of such strength and stiffness that the last portion of the movement of the carrier in normal use is due to the momentum which it acquires during the first portion of its movementunder the action of the spring J It will also be noted that the spring V underlies the abutment X so as to maintain it in place, but that when the spring is removed, the abutment will be thrown out by its spring Y.

In use, the grenade is grasped by the user with the two first fingers resting on the coiled portions V and V? of the spring V. It is then thrown much in the same fashion as a ball, and as the grenade leaves the hand, the spring V is stripped oif by the fingers. The grenade by this action is necessaril given a twist or rotation which sets up su cient centrifugal force to cause the plunger Q to move outwardly against the tension of its light spring until the catch T is engaged, whereupon the plunger is held in its retracted position. As soon as the spring V is stripped from the grenade, .the abutment X is forced out of the grenade by its spring. The position of the parts is then such that the sear holds the carrier G in its retracted position until the grenade strikes an object whereupon the shock of impact aided by the momentum of the weighted sear disengages the carrier and the spring J forces the latter with the detona tor F down to the firing'pin E.

It will be observed that there are a number'of factors of safety in the present construction which make it practically impossible for an accidental explosion to take place.

The safety plunger Q or its equivalent being constantly pressed down by a spring is not liable to become disengaged either in use or during the operation of loading or setting. In addition to this the spring V holds the plunger Q positively against'retraction. The detonator need not be introduced until just prior to use and may be shipped separately. If by any mischance there should be a disengagement of the sear and detonator carrier, or if for some reason the sear should have been omitted, the abutment X will prevent the detonator from striking the safety pin even after the latter has been introduced in such a faulty grenade. If in throwing the grenade the hand of the user should strike against an object and the grenade drop, the latter will not explode even though the spring V should become dislodged, since the necessary centrifugal action is not set up to release the plunger Q. g

It should be observed that many changes may be made in the structure herein described without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be observedthat while I have described the improvement as applied to a hand grenade, it may be used in connection with other projectiles if desired.

I claim:-

1. A grenade comprising a firing mechanism, a sear controlling the firing mechanism and comprising an elongated weighted'member loosely supported on one end for pivotal movement, and a centrifugally operated member governing the sear.

2. A grenade or the likehaving a tiltable sear, a carrier for a detonator, a firing pin, the sear and said carrier being released upon impact of the grenade, and a movable abutment adapted to prevent said detonator from reaching said pin until the grenade is thrown, and said abutment being adapted to be displaced to permit firing before release of the firing mechanism by the seat.

3. A grenade or the like having a tiltable sear, a carrier for a detonator, a firing pin,

and a movable abutment adapted to prevent said detonator from reaching said pin until the grenade is thrown, said abutment being adapted to be displaced to permit firing before release of the firing mechanism by the sear, and said abutment comprisin' a member, a spring tending to displace sai member from its operative position, and means for holding it in said operative position, said last-named means being adapted to be displaced during the throwing operation. 4, A grenade or the like comprising a main casing, a firing mechanism casing havmg two chambers, a tiltable sear and a safety device in one chamber, and a detonator and firing pin in the other chamber, the safety device normally engaging the sear while the grenade is at rest and being freed from engagement with said sear by the dif ference in inertia between the safety device and the casing resulting from the rotation of the casing during the flight of the grenade.

5. A grenade or the like comprising a main casing, a firing mechanism casing having two chambers, a tiltable scar and a safety device arranged in one chamber, and a detonator carrier and firing pin arranged in the other chamber, there being a communicating passage between the two chambers through which a portion of the carrier passes to engage said sear. r

6. In a grenade or the like, a carrier for a detonator, a sear having engagement with the carrier and movable to release the carrier upon impact, a sleeve adapted to contain said detonator and fitting said carrier, and a spring above said sleeve.

7. A hand grenade or the like comprising a main casing, a firing mechanism casing having two chambers, a tiltable sear and a centrifugally-operated weight engaging said sear located in one chamber, a detonator carrier and firing pin located in the other chamber, a sleeve for said detonator, and a spring for said sleeve.

8. A hand grenade or the like comprising a main casing, a firing mechanism casing having two chambers, a tiltable sear and a centrifugally-operated weight engaging said sear located in one chamber, a detonator carrier and firing pin located in the other chamber, a sleeve for said detonator, a spring for said sleeve, and an abutment adapted normally to project in the path of said carrier to prevent firing, and means for holding said abutment in its normal position until the grenade is thrown.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

AXEL G. BERGMAN. 

